About

Mō

Through the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry, a number of survivors expressed their need for a service to share their experiences, between the closure of the Royal Commission and the time when a new, independent redress system is established.

The Survivor Experiences Service has been designed to meet this need.

The Service is for people who were abused in state, faith-based, or other forms of care (e.g., private schools, non-governmental organisations). We offer two services for survivors and whānau: sharing experiences of abuse in care, and records support.

We aim to provide a space that can support healing for survivors of abuse in care, allowing their experiences to be heard, validated and acknowledged. We also offer support for people who have been abused in care to request, receive, and understand care records. 

The Service is survivor-led, by survivors for survivors. It is guided by an independent Board, which includes survivors of abuse from diverse backgrounds. Our staff have experience with survivors who have been abused in care. We are committed to working with survivors from all backgrounds to ensure the Service is fit-for-purpose and reflects the needs of survivors.

We tailor our services to survivor’s unique needs and create a non-judgemental space. Māori, Pacific, Deaf and disabled, LGBTQIA+, MVPFAFF+, Takatāpui and survivors in prison remain at the forefront of our minds.

The Service provides fully accessible short-term support for survivors to help them share their experiences (before, during and after sessions) and also when accessing records support – with referrals to other support services where needed. 

The Service will run from July 2023 through to the introduction of a new, independent redress system, which is being led by the Crown Response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry.

Support Services

If you or someone you know needs crisis support, or other forms of support, please visit our Support Services webpage for information about 24/7 helplines